Moments of Magic

The Secret Santa

"Alright, guys! Gather around." Ms. Grace announced the following Monday afternoon. Coach Eddy, a teacher I knew by name, and all the seventh grade girls gathered around her.

"So, what's going on?" The third teacher asked.

"Ms. C, Ms. Grace is hosting a Secret Santa!" Kate yapped. Ms. C was an elderly Indian woman who wore Indian-style garments and glasses.

"That's right, Kate." Ms. Grace clarified as she held out a box with paper slips inside. "Now, when I call your name, you will close your eyes and draw a slip of paper. The name on that slip of paper will be your Secret Santa. Every day this week, you must place a little gift inside your Secret Santa's stocking."

When my name was called, I did as I was told and grabbed a slip of paper from inside. It had Coach Eddy's name on it. Just as I had thought.

All that week, I checked my stocking for anything, maybe a note that will help me identify who my Secret Santa was. I had gotten Snickers candy bars and a handwritten note that said something like, "I like to dance.".

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On Wednesday, Ms. Grace had all of us write our wish lists on an index card. When we all finished, Ms. Grace collected them all and stored them inside the refrigerator. The very next day, I shuffled through the cards, looking for Coach Eddy's and sure enough, he asked for very simple things, socks being one of them.

"Mom, we need to get socks for Coach Eddy. It's for Secret Santa." I informed when I got home.

"Sure. Let's go." Mom said and drove me to the mall. We got Coach Eddy his socks and left.

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The next day was the last day of school before winter break. After lunch, Ms. Grace had us all gather around and give our gifts to our Secret Santa. Ms. Grace turned out to be my Secret Santa and gave me a rather big present. I then revealed that Coach Eddy was my Secret Santa and gave him his socks.

When that part was over, each and every one of us opened our presents. I gasped when I saw what Ms. Grace had gotten me. Inside a box, there was a brand new sketch book, pencil sharpener, and a bunch of colored pencils. Seems like Ms. Grace knows me REALLY well.

"Thanks, Ms. Grace!" I said with glee as I threw my arms around Ms. Grace.

"I got socks!" Coach Eddy shouted with joy. I felt a surge of guilt. I know it's not much, but it was on his wish list.

"Thanks, Mia!" Coach Eddy pulled me in for an embrace.

"Uh...you're welcome." That was all I could say. I was also relieved that the sketch book came in time. I was running out of clean paper...and coloring supplies. Seems like one of the advantages of being in a small class is that your teachers know about your interests.

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Author's Note: I know, I haven't been up to snuff lately. The writing in this book's been pretty cruddy, and you're probably like "WTF Mia, you can do better!" Yes, I can do better. Just check out Star Wars: Sith Rising, my first ever Star Wars fanfic. And I'm most certainly proud of that.